The Flicker
Even when darkness envelops everything and extinguishes all light, it cannot extinguish the flame that was destined to burn.
The Flicker
This constant twisting battle plagues my mind,
destroying the light inside that tries so desperately to shine.
I want to scream. I want to fight.
Yet I sit here frozen—unable to move a muscle—
my own thoughts tempting me to try.
I can’t seem to escape this pain
as it slowly devours my soul.
I’ve tried every remedy offered by the gods.
Every trick.
Every miracle.
Every prayer one could muster.
But I’m left more empty than when I began the journey—
beaten and broken.
A shell of my former self,
slithering along the path,
belly torn from the gravel.
My hands are calloused.
My heart, hardened.
I can no longer see as I once did.
Oh God—how could you take my eyes from me?
Darkness surrounds every thought.
It creeps in and tickles my back.
Its fingers, like the branches of a tree, caress me gently—
so gently I forget the danger I’m in.
I open the door. I let it in.
And once I do,
my house is never the same again.
It makes itself at home,
throws away my things,
and darkens every corner.
What am I to do?
I made these choices—must I not face the consequences?
But I was ill-prepared.
Shouldn’t my forefathers battle this demon in my place?
Why must I face this alone?
Their abandonment left me holding the sword.
But I’m too weak.
I was never trained to handle such evil.
Let me go free without taking my soul.
Have I not sacrificed enough to appease you?
What value does my suffering hold in your eyes?
Should I rip myself apart, atom by atom?
Would you then be satisfied?
I’m only met with laughter.
“Do it, and we’ll see,” it whispers to me.
And so I begin the process of destroying myself again—
piece by piece,
watching myself fade into the eternal abyss.
Past memories of pain and torment surface
as I stand, a mere spectator,
watching holes appear where my body once was.
But as I continue to tear away my structure,
I’m met with something else—
a flicker.
Something deep inside…
clawing,
ripping at its walls,
doing anything to reach the surface.
The laughter stops.
It’s replaced by panic.
The flicker becomes a glow.
And then—light.
Light brighter than a thousand suns erupts from within me.
The fire pours out like a volcano,
searing through every room,
burning away the shadows.
The voice screams in agony—
for it knows its time has come.
The eviction process has begun.
I watch in awe,
expecting the light to fade.
But it doesn’t.
It only grows.
And in that moment, I realize—
my transformation has only just begun.
Thank you for reading.
If you’ve felt swallowed by darkness, know this: you’re not alone.
We’re out here—flickering in silence, igniting together.
If something here resonated with you, I’d be delighted to hear about the part that stood out to you. Your words hold great significance here.
Next: The Wretched Man
A descent into the shadows of the soul,
where even the broken hear a voice whisper:
“Don’t let go… or they’ll all be right.”
